This rematch felt inevitable. The 49ers and Seahawks duked it out for the division and the No. 1 seed in Week 18, with the Seahawks claiming an important victory. After San Francisco went into Philly to beat the defending champs, they’re on to Seattle and seeking revenge. What could be better than a nasty rivalry game in the playoffs?
Seattle is a seven-point favorite and -345 on the moneyline, while San Francisco is +275 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at over/under 45.5 points. Here’s a preview, prediction and pick for Saturday’s 49ers vs. Seahawks matchup.
49ers vs. Seahawks prediction, preview
So much about this game comes down to San Francisco’s injury report. In addition to a litany of season-ending injuries, the 49ers went into Week 18’s contest without stud left tackle Trent Williams and WR1 Ricky Pearsall, while losing linebacker Dee Winters along the way. All three of those players were limited participants in practice this week, along with another big name: Fred Warner.
Less than 100 days after breaking his ankle against the Buccaneers, the best linebacker in football is nearing a return. The coaching staff has insisted that his return is unlikely, but you watch this practice footage and tell me Warner is going to sit out a win-or-go-home game.
George Kittle’s absence is tough to get over, but the Niners rallied back from that injury to beat the Eagles. If they have a healthy Warner to go with Williams, Pearsall, and Winters, it’ll be the most whole the team has been since they defeated the Seahawks in Week 1.
This Seattle team feels like a different beast since that Week 1 matchup. The pass rush has dialed in, they’re getting great secondary play, and the run game has been dominant. Sam Darnold knows what his job is: feed Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has been the best receiver in football this season. That connection has sustained them all year long when they need chunk plays.
The Niners can sell out to stop JSN, but so have other teams, to little success. He totaled 15 catches for 208 yards across their two matchups this season, and at a certain point, there’s nothing you can do.
If San Francisco wants to win this game, they need to win the possession battle. That means limiting turnovers, which killed them in the last matchup, and taking advantage of Sam Darnold’s extreme turnover issues this season. It also means they need to step up and contain the run while establishing Christian McCaffrey when they have the ball. It’s a tall task against a superior, healthier team.
49ers vs. Seahawks pick, best bet
Winning twice on the road in one season against a divisional rival is tough. But these teams love to get into the mud against one another. Seattle outscored the Niners 26-20 combined across the first two matchups, and despite feeling like a dominant effort, they won by 10 in Week 18 against a team suffering through overwhelming injuries. A couple of crucial comebacks for San Francisco will draw them close, creating another drama-filled contest that comes down to the last drive.
